'While I welcome the pilot, the government has missed a chance to examine the ways in which teacher workload can be reduced.

'It has prevented the 32 schools in this pilot from testing the proposals of the teacher unions and the employers to limit the teaching load and the working week as a means of reducing the burden on teachers.

'Yet again, the government has shown itself only willing to consider its own ideas rather than being open to solutions from those who understand the needs of teachers. It should have been prepared to pilot the proposals, which are supported by the employers, of a limit to the teaching week and a limit to the teachers' working week.'

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